Chair construction



March 22, 1949- ROTH 2,464,995

CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Filed May 17, 1945. {Sheets-Sheet 1 v INVEN TOR.

ANDQEW/ ROTH BY X ATToyeNEY A. ROTH CHAIR CONSTRUCTION March 22, 1949.

2 Shegats-Shet 2 Filed May 17, 1945 INVENTOR.

ANDREW ROTH ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 22, 1949 FFICE CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Andrew Roth, Philadelphia, Pa.,

assignor to Bunting Glider Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 17, 1945, Serial No. 594,300

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to chairs and the like and more particularly to an improved construction of an all-metal chair.

Among the principal objects of the present invention is to provide an all-metal chair which is exceedingly rigid in construction by reason of the employment of side frame elements for the seat and back panels, these frame elements serving not only as rigidifying members for these panels but also as the means for supporting the seat and back elements upon the supporting frame for the chair. Further, these side frame elements are capable of being embossed or otherwise ornamented to enhance the appearance of the chair and so give it an appearance which is quite distinctive from the conventional construction of all-metal chairs.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter, it being understood that the present invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as described in detail hereinafter, as shown in the accompanying drawings and as finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of a chair constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of such chair;

Figure 2 is a side elevational View thereof;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view through the seat portion of the chair taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective View showing in sepa rated relation the frame elements for the seat and back panels as employed on one side of the chair;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of one of the side frame elements for the seat panel as taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a sectional View taken on the line 7-1 of Figure 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be observed that the chair of the present invention includes a supporting frame it! for a seat assembly H and a back assembly E2, the frame it consisting of a pair of laterally spaced identical side members 53-43, each of generally inverted U-shape, the portions It of which constitute the legs of the chair while the curved upper portions thereof serve as the chair arms.

The seat assembly 5! of the chair includes a seat panel l5 suitably formed of a sheet metal stamping which may be embossed, perforated or otherwise ornamented as desired, and a pair of laterally spaced frame elements lt-IB which respectively underlie and are secured to the op.- posite marginal side portions of the seat panel. As most clearly appears in Figures 4, 5 and 6, each of these side frame elements ltl6 for the seat panel 25 is of generally box-like form open on that side thereof which presents inwardly of the chair, the closed or main body portion I! thereof being so disposed that it lies in the vertical plane of the side edge of the seat panel in flush relation therewith. The body portion 51 of each frame element is provided with a marginal inwardly extending flange It, the seat panel being secured, as by welding, riveting or otherwise, the top and front flanged portions of the side frame, these portions being contoured to correspond to the desired shape of the seat panel. Ihus, the seat assembly H is in the form of a rigid unit consisting of the relatively thin seat panel l5 and its reinforc ng and rigidfying side frame elements lfil6. The front end of the seat panel extends downwardly about the front flanged portions of the side frame elements, as at l9, and thence rearwardly, as at 20, to provide a smooth dependin; frontal skirt for the seat. In similar manner, the rear end of the seat panel extends downwardly about the rear flanged portions of the side frame elements, as at 2!, to provide the seat assembly with a smooth, finished rear edge. The front and rear edges of the seat panel are each cut away at their oppos te ends to facilitate turning said edges substantially at right angles to the adjacent flanged portions of the frame elements, as at 22 in the case of the front edge of the seat panel and as at 23 in the case of the rear edge thereof. Preferably. the inturned front and rear edges of the seat panel are doubled back upon themselves as shown.

The back assembly I 2 is structurally similar to that of the seat assembly in that it also includes a sheet metal panel 24 to the opposite side edges of which are respectively secured a pair of reinforcing and rigidifying frame elements 25-45. Except for differences in shape, these elements are structurally and functionally the same as those of the seat assembly l2. The top and bottom edges of the back panel 24 are wrapped about the top and bottom flanged portions of the frame elements 2525 and then inwardly turned, as at 26 and 21, the inturned through registering bolt holes 29 suitably provided in said abutting ends of the seat and back assemblies.

The assembled seat andback unit is in turn supported between the side members. l'3--I3 of the chair by means of bolts or studs which.

project through the front legs of the said.mem-

bers I3-I3 and engage theyertically' disposed main body portions of the'f frame elements 16-46, and bolts or studs 3| ijvhich similarly project through the rear arm portions of the members l3- -l3. and engage the vertically disposed main body portions of the frame'elements 25-'2 5. The seat and back unit thus suspended between the supporting members l3.-"l'3 interconnect the latter and cooperate there'with'to form an" 'exceedingly rigid and durable structure. Preferably, the rear legs of the'side supports l3-l3 ar interconnected by a transversely extending connector rod or tube 32.

The box-like frame elements 2525, which serve as side girders for the seat and back panels, so strengthen'and reinforce the latter as to permit the use oflightgauge sheet metal to form such panels. Also, an important advantage in the use of these frame elements is that their main body portions, which lie in flush relation to the side edges of the-seat and back I6lli and 4 responding sides of said seat and back panels being disposed with their flanged end portions in abutting relation, said flanged end portions be- 'ing flattened for securement together in flatwise engagement.

2. In a chair of the character defined in claim 1 whereinthe side frame elements for the seat assembly are respectively alined with and secured to the corresponding elements for the back assembly to provide a unitary seat and back structure adapted for support between said side supporting. members.

.3. 'An all-metal seat and back assembly for a chair-orthelike adapted to be supported between a pair of' side supports arranged in laterally spaced substantially parallel relation comprising a pair of angul'arly related sheet metal panels respectively constituting the seat and back of the chair, the corresponding side edges of said panels being disposed in a common vertical plane, and a structural element extending along substantially the full length of and being secured to each marginal side edge portions of said panels, said elements being characterized in that each includes a main body portion disposed substantially in said vertical plane of th side edge of the panel to'which it is secured and an inwardly panels, may be embossed,perforated or otherwise I treated to provideany desired decorative effect to the sides of the'chair and so'fma'terially enhance its ornamental aspect. In the construction as illustrated, 'such ornamentation is obtained by a combination of embossing and perforating those side portions of the frame elements to provide perforations 33 and surroundingindented portions 34. I It will be understood, of course, that the present construction of chair is not in any sense lim-- ited to the particular form thereof shown'in the drawing and that the seat and back assemblies may be varied as desired, particularly frorh'the standpoint of design, allwithout departing from the principles of the present invention.

What is claimed'as new and useful is:

1. In a chair of the character described, a pair of laterally spaced side members constituting supports for the seat and back of the chair; a seat assembly including a pair of laterally spaced side frame elements and a sheet metal panel extending therebetween and secured thereto, and aback assembly also including a pair of laterally spaced side frame elements and a sheet metal panelextending therebetween and secured thereto, said frame elements being characterized in that each includes a main body portion disposed substantially in the vertical plane of said edge of the panel and an inwardly turned flange extending marginally about said main body portion, the frame elements respectively secured to the corturned flange extending marginally about said main body portion, the flanged portions at the proximate extremities of the elements extending along each side of the angularly related seat and back panels being secured together in abutting relation.

4, An all-metal assembly for a chair or the like comprising a pair of laterally spaced elongated structural frame elements including main body portions disposed in substantially parallel relation, each of said body portions having an inwardly'turned flange extending marginally about the full perimeter thereof to provide each frame element with flanged longitudinally extending edges and flanged extremities, a sheet metal panel supported by and secured to corresponding longitudinally extending portions of the perimetral flanges of said main body portions, with the opposite side edges of said panel substantially flush with the external surfaces of said main body portions, the opposite tranverse ends of said panel being respectively extended about th corresponding flanged extremities of said frame elements.

ANDREW ROTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,122,935 Fleischer July 5, 1938 2,243,253 Kranz May 27, 1941 2,250,030 'Morgan July 22, 1941 2,263,209 Gilkison Nov. 18, 1941 2,300,116 Goldberg Oct. 27, 19-12 2,302,969 McMahan NOV. 24, 1942 2,303,039 Gilkison Nov. 24, 1942 

